More traffic misery for Weymouth and Portland (From Dorset Echo)
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More traffic misery for Weymouth and Portland
3:00pm Thursday 2nd September 2010 in
MOTORISTS in Weymouth and Portland can expect more traffic misery as Wessex Water begins two major repair projects.
Business owners say they fear for their trade after the water company announced a 16-week repair programme will begin in Abbotsbury Road next month.
Portland residents can also expect major disruption in October when the High Street will be dug up to repair a Victorian sewer.
The Abbotsbury Road works mean the route will become a one-way system temporarily and comes in the wake of continuing gas works on nearby Boot Hill and the borough’s Olympic transport scheme.
Sue Pitman, who has run Florian Guest House in Abbotsbury Road for five years, said she has already seen a drop in her annual takings.
She said: “I would have thought it would be a good idea for them to finish one job first before beginning another.
“This is going to be total chaos. My figures are already way down on this time last year.”
Di Bowles, who has run Gimbletts Hardware for 20 years with her husband Clive, said: “These works mean I won’t be able to sell bags of coal or bottles of gas or paraffin because people won’t be able to stop their cars to load up.”
Locals have also been warned that their water supplies will be turned off at points during the works.
Regarding the Abbotsbury Road works, a Wessex Water spokesman said: “We worked closely with Dorset County Council’s highways department to come up with a way of managing traffic to allow traffic to flow along Abbotsbury Road so the water main can be replaced while not adversely impacting on local businesses.”
Regarding the Portland works, the spokesman said: “Work will take place in High Street following a CCTV investigation which revealed serious defects that could cause a future sewer collapse if left unresolved. The work will involve the closure of High Street from Monday, October 25 to Sunday 31.”
The spokesman said access for High Street residents will be maintained at all times.
Comments(10)
Duckorange
says...
3:50pm Thu 2 Sep 10
.
"Meanwhile, Weymouth businesses led by online publishing mogul D. Orange of Wyke Regis have launched a plan to insert a garden gnome up the head of traffic planning. The scheme is expected to last four to six weeks"
RobinofLocksley
says...
4:23pm Thu 2 Sep 10
I will cheerfully help to hold him/her down while you carry out the insertion. I normally charge £5 for such a service but will waive my fee as it's such a worthy cause.
Be_Happy
says...
4:32pm Thu 2 Sep 10
By getting us so used to all this traffic chaos when they announce that there is no private transport allowed on the roads during the olympics we won't bat an eyelid.
heinrich
says...
4:37pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Bridge is expected to close because of
renovation works,and let us not forget
the Swannery Bridge which need work
to be done.My solution to the problem
which has suddenly been disovered is
to bulldoze Weymouth flat and then
start rebuilding a twentyfirst century
town.
585
says...
5:38pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Swannery Bridge closure starting on the 20th which DDC has just announced.
Where, I looked on the DCC website but could not find this announcement.
Duckorange
says...
5:55pm Thu 2 Sep 10
karenc
says...
6:58pm Thu 2 Sep 10
fastjet
says...
8:49pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Duckorange wrote:they already did this by the streamside as it was, traffic leaving weymouth went all the way bach to brewers quay dont tempt the bas***ds
I wrote them a letter (which is now on the DCC website):
Dear Mr Transport Package
You’re doing this as a dare, aren’t you? It’s all a huge social experiment called “How many roads can we dig up in Weymouth at the same time before people are reduced to foraging in hedgerows because the Waitrose van can’t get through,” isn’t it?
Go on – admit it: You’ve got men in white coats from the country’s foremost higher educational establishments making notes on clipboards every time they see a driver, trapped in a jam, rocking back and forth like the bears you see on adverts for animal charities they put on during Countdown, the people of Weymouth and Dorset trapped like so many mice in some cruel psychological experiment to see how much a community can take before we all go Lord of the Flies.
If this is the case, I dare you to reduce Preston Beach Road to a single lane with Stop/Go boards for six months pending the construction of a 300-foot statue of Cheryl Cole. I double-dog-dare you with no returns, in fact.
I am not mad.
Your pal,
Duckorange
PS - Serious point: It *is* getting a bit much, isn't it? Hope the comment gives you a laugh
And the reply: "Thank you for your feedback. We have forwarded your planning requests re: said cultural monument to the relevant department."
Well played!
MarloweOS
says...
6:18pm Fri 3 Sep 10
Duckorange wrote:So what they are actually doing is asking "what projects have we been putting of for years that we can get done NOW using the Olympic preparation as an excuse to get it done and funded?"
585: Paste this into your web browser - bit.ly/a4ikIU
Who is funding this, I heard a rumour the rest of the UK is in a recession, obviously not in Weymouth, they have money to waste!
If only some other roads like the A31 would get improved as part of the same idea. Its frustrating to be put out for maintenance, but less frustrating to be put out for improvements.
Perhaps Skanska whould be asked to plan these road works. During the entire relief road only once have they introduced a one way system, and that was at Manor roundabout. In the past year DCC have introduced one way schemes on, Boot Hill, The A354 near Dorchester, and now Swanary bridge, and Abbotsbury road.
As for a nasty suprise such as 'no private cars during Olympics', this would be terrible and would require 24 hour bus connection between Weymouth and all surrounding towns to allow employees to get in. Some companies will be bringing in extra staff from around the country, they can't walk!
More likely is to leave all the private cars in queues, and configure the traffic lights to only let buses through . . . wait isn't that what they ARE doing?
I think it would be quite interesting if the railway bridge over the Dorchester bypass was to somehow need reconstructing during the Olympics. This would cut off the two primary means of transport into the town! Might be worth rebuilding it now just in case, they're rebuilding / resurfacing / replacing everything else!
And lastly, how large is this garden gnome, because whatever size it is, I think it should be BIGGER!
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Duckorange says...
3:38pm Thu 2 Sep 10
Dear Mr Transport Package
You’re doing this as a dare, aren’t you? It’s all a huge social experiment called “How many roads can we dig up in Weymouth at the same time before people are reduced to foraging in hedgerows because the Waitrose van can’t get through,” isn’t it?
Go on – admit it: You’ve got men in white coats from the country’s foremost higher educational establishments making notes on clipboards every time they see a driver, trapped in a jam, rocking back and forth like the bears you see on adverts for animal charities they put on during Countdown, the people of Weymouth and Dorset trapped like so many mice in some cruel psychological experiment to see how much a community can take before we all go Lord of the Flies.
If this is the case, I dare you to reduce Preston Beach Road to a single lane with Stop/Go boards for six months pending the construction of a 300-foot statue of Cheryl Cole. I double-dog-dare you with no returns, in fact.
I am not mad.
Your pal,
Duckorange
PS - Serious point: It *is* getting a bit much, isn't it? Hope the comment gives you a laugh
And the reply: "Thank you for your feedback. We have forwarded your planning requests re: said cultural monument to the relevant department."
Well played!